Laurence Lyal ABIGAIL

INTERMEDIATE EXAMINATION”

Penrith Passes

The following pupils of Penrith High School were successful in the recent Intermediate Certificate Examination:

Laurence Abigail, …………

Penrith Boys’ Club

On Monday night last the Boys’ Club opened their training in preparation for their inter-club tournaments. These will be held periodically against Sydney clubs, and the instructors trust that the Penrith citizens will give them their support.

Boxing, wrestling, judo, and weight-lifting bouts will be described in these columns. From these the boys will be chosen to represent Penrith.

Any parents who are desirous of having their sons taught are asked to contact the following gentlemen any Monday or Wednesday evening. President (Mr. G. Hayes), secretary (E. Thomas ), boxing (Mr. McDonald), wrestling (A. Berquist), Judo (Dick Kent), Weight-lifting ( Constable Abigail ), P.T. and cycling (Mr. Jock Ross).

In spite of counter attractions owing to Education Week, there was a good roll-up of boys.

Laurie Abigail has a fine squad of weight-lifters. He is working them with some very fine body building exercises.

George Hayes has some keen boys in his team of boxers. They should make their presence felt in the tournaments.

There are legs and arms every where in Dick Kent’s judo corner.

Don Johnstone, the gym supervisor, has his work cut out looking after ball-punching, table tennis, and scores of excited spirited lads.

Then the ladies; they are always on duty to look after the boys’ requirements.

A cricket team will play in the competition this year, consisting of registered members of the club.

It is with regret we learn that Tom McDonald has requested leave of basence through illness. The boys wish him a speedy

recovery.

Col Weekes of Kingswood will take over the boxing instructor’s Job. Thanks, Col.

“These Charges Easy to Bring and Hard to Disprove”

Just what happened to the off-side wheel of the car which was driven by George Thomas Cook, 31 years old, of 79 Foucart Street, Rozelle?

Constable L. L. Abigail of Penrith police gave evidence that on June 15 he went to the scene of an accident 50 yards west of Penrith Ambulance Station in High Street. He saw a car lying on its side on the northern side of the road. The constable also saw the driver of the car who said he was doing 20 to 25 m.p.h. when the front off-side wheel came off. The constable had a look, and sure enough the wheel was missing. He looked at the road, and could find no evidence of where any part of the car had scraped along the road.

Defendant admitted to the constable he had been drinking. The constable inspected this car at about 10.30 on the Sunday night—the date in question.

Constable Abigail arrested the defendant and took him to Penrith Police Station, and charged him with driving under the influence.

The wheel was later discovered in a paddock on the southern side of the roadway.

Mr. E. O’Loughlin (of Messrs. E. O’Loughlin, Ffrench and Co., Solicitors, Penrith) cross-examined the constable, who remembered he had taken defendant to the C.P.S. office in July when the case was adjourned. He did notice that the defendant spoke deliberately and slowly on that occasion, somewhat similar to the manner in which he had spoken when he was first interviewed at the accident. He had no reason to doubt the defendant excepting when he said the wheel had fallen off.

To Mr. Stonham the constable said that he had asked the defendant where he had been from 3.30 to 10.30, and defendant had replied he had been at an Hotel.

Sgt. Norman J. Beatty, who was on duty when defendant was brought in to the police station, also gave evidence. Defendant had asked to see a particular doctor in Sydney.

Mr. Stonham said that Const. Abigail, as a young constable, gave very good evidence, and investigated this accident extremely thoroughly.

“As I have often said in regard to police evidence,” said the magistrate, “the police must not guess. These charges are easy to bring and hard to disprove, and they can only rely on observations.”

It was a notorious fact, he said, that there were a number of medical causes that could produce signs or symptoms similar to intoxication. When you have to rely purely on observations and opinions evidence must be very clear evidence, he said.

“Morally, I have no doubt that the defendant was well under the influence. The story he told in the witness box was a lot of nonsense —in the hotel at 3.30 and had three middies of beer, and stopped there when he was feeling sick.

“I am not legally satisfied, and the defendant is discharged,” concluded the magistrate.

First Offence, and Lost Licence

A case was heard on Monday against a man who was driving along the Highway in a most erratic manner. He would be on the gravel for a time, and then veer over to the centre of the roadway. Constable Abigail saw the circumstances, and he asked the driver to pull over and stop. The said driver did not appear to understand. At least, what the constable said did not register. Finally, he was able to get him to stop.

“Show me your licence,” said the constable. The man fumbled, and was unable to find a licence.

“Where have you been drinking?” asked the constable.

Defendant told him he had been drinking horehound and lemonade at one of the hotels.

The constable expressed his doubts, because the defendant’s face was flushed, his eyes blood shot, and he couldn’t stand unassisted. The man in blue lifted him into the sidecar and took him to the police station.

Defendant had nothing to say to Mr. W. E. McAndrew, S.M. He had no prior convictions, although 47 years of age. Fined £15, with disqualification from holding a licence for 12 months.

Penrith Flourishing Says General Manager.

Penrith is considered by Eric Anderson’s to be a flourishing centre, general manager of the firm, Mr. G. Martin, said early this week.

In this respect, Penrith is similar to Blacktown, he said, where Eric Anderson’s opened a store last weekend.

Set-up of the store in Penrith will be along the same lines as the firm’s stores in the city.

Amalgamation of Handley’s, well-established Penrith retailers, and Eric Anderson’s took place in May this year, because policies of the two firms had a great deal in common.

Since the amalgamation, the store has been completely remodelled in the style of all Eric Anderson’s stores, which now total 39. These stores are located in Brisbane, and suburbs, Sydney and suburbs, Canberra, Wollongong and a new store is now under construction at Newcastle.

This large electrical retail organisation was founded by the late Mr. Eric Anderson 36 years ago.

Managing director of Eric Anderson’s, Mr. Bede Solomons, said this week that the company was anxious to build a network of shops well equipped and staffed to give daily service to every part of the Western area.

“With the recently opened centres at St. Marys and Blacktown, we are now happy to complete the link between Penrith and Parramatta,” Mr. Solomons said.’

MANAGER

Head of the staff of 15 at Penrith is the manager, Mr. Arthur Williams, who has had 12 years’ experience in Penrith, the last two with Handley’s.

He was originally with Bon Marche Ltd., with whom he had been for 20 years, coming to Penrith as sample room manager and district representative.

At the time of the amalgamation of Handley’s and Eric Anderson’s he was merchandise manager and sales manager.

Born at Marrickville, Mr. Williams is now living at St. Marys. He is married with three children.

Of sporting inclination, he is a member of Leonay Golf Club, Penrith Bowling Club, Nepean Rowing Club, and Penrith Rugby Leagues Club.

CREDIT MANAGER

Credit manager of Eric Anderson’s, Mr. Arthur Abigail, joined the staff of Handley’s seven years ago, and he has been in Penrith for 20 years.

He came to Penrith to open a branch office for Globe Estates and Finance Company, later transferring to leading estate agents, C. J. Welch Pty. Ltd. After eight years with that firm, he was appointed credit manager and staff supervisor at Handley’s.

One of his three children, all of whom are married, is stationed at Penrith Police Station. He is constable Laurence Abigail.